The outcome of the HD-73 election won't be certain until the middle of May at the earliest.

State District Judge James Clawson set a May 19 trial date. The candidates have to file briefs by May 5 and come to a preliminary hearing on May 14.

Rep. Nathan Macias, R-Bulverde, lost the election to GOP challenger Doug Miller by a handful of votes — 17 — but contends that a number of voters cast more than one ballot and that that group of double-voters was big enough to flip the election result.

His lawyers asked Clawson to remove himself from the case without saying why; he declined to do that.

Trey Trainor, a lawyer for Macias, said they were "extremely pleased" with the trial date. He didn't know whether they would appeal the judge's decision to remain in charge. Craig Murphy, a spokesman for Miller, said, "we couldn't be happier."